List of films featuring giant monsters


This is an alphabetical list of films featuring giant monsters, including the kaiju subgenre.

Overview

One of the first films involving giant monsters was the 1933 classic [King King Kong|Kong (1933 film)|King Kong], as developments in cinema and animation enabled the creation of realistic giant creatures. The film influenced many giant-monster films in its wake, including many produced in Japan. Two of the earliest of these were The Great Buddha Arrival from 1934 and 1938's King Kong That Appeared in Edo, both of which are now presumed to be lost films. The visual effects in King Kong, created by Willis O'Brien, inspired future monster film effects artists such as Ray Harryhausen and Dennis Muren. Early giant-monster films often had themes of adventure and exploration of unknown regions, and incorporated fights with giant monsters as a climactic element.
The development of atomic weaponry in the 1940s gave rise to its involvement in popular themes. The 1953 American film The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms featured a giant dinosaur that awakens due to nuclear tests in the Arctic. The 1954 film Them! involved giant irradiated ants. Later in 1954, the Japanese film Godzilla was released, followed by Rodan in 1956. This was at a time when giant creatures created by nuclear radiation became popular. Japan continued with a giant moth in Mothra, a turtle in Gamera, and many more that followed. Other countries have their own giant monster movies such as the United Kingdom and Denmark with Gorgo and Reptilicus, both released in 1961.
Films featuring Godzilla and Gamera were made into the 1970s, and a King Kong remake was released in 1976. Awareness of toxic waste and the growth of the environmental movement in the 1970s inspired the release of various horror films, and the giant monster subgenre saw the release of 1971's Godzilla vs. Hedorah, in which the themes of pollution and environmentalism were incorporated into the series. Following a second series of films in the 1980s and 1990s, Godzilla received a 1998 remake by TriStar Pictures, while King Kong received a 2005 remake by Universal Pictures. 2008 saw the release of the successful Cloverfield, which some critics have claimed took inspiration from the September 11 attacks. Pacific Rim, a film featuring giant mecha battling with kaiju, was released in 2013, and the following year Legendary reinterpreted Godzilla for a new generation of audiences in the series' 30th film. The first Japanese film in the Godzilla series after a ten year long hiatus, Shin Godzilla, premiered in Japan in July 2016. A reboot of King Kong known as Kong: Skull Island was released in March 2017. Two other Godzilla films were released subsequently, with [Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2010 film)|Monsters (2019 film)|Godzilla: King of the Monsters] releasing in 2019 and Godzilla vs. Kong releasing in 2021. Toho’s latest Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One, premiered in Japan in 2023. Legendary would release Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in 2024, and is currently producing Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.

List of films

NameYearCountryDescriptionRef.
20 Million Miles to Earth1957United StatesExtraterrestrial from Venus
2-Headed Shark Attack2012United StatesTwo-headed shark
3-Headed Shark Attack2015United StatesThree-headed shark
5-Headed Shark Attack2017United StatesFive-headed shark
'1958United StatesCyclops, dragon, roc
'1959United StatesGiantess
47 Ronin2013United StatesKirin, Mizuki
Alice in Wonderland2010United StatesJabberwocky
All Monsters Attack1969JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Alligator1980United StatesGiant alligator
Always: Sunset on Third Street 22007JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Anaconda1997United StatesGiant anaconda
Anaconda2025United StatesGiant anaconda
Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid2004United StatesGiant anacondas
Anaconda 3: Offspring2008United StatesGiant anacondas
Anacondas: Trail of Blood2009United StatesGiant anacondas
Ape1976South Korea, United StatesGiant gorilla, giant snake
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters2007United StatesInsanoflex / robot
Aquaman2018United StatesKarathen
'1942United StatesDinosaur-esque monster
Atragon1963JapanManda / daikaiju
Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader2012United StatesGiantess
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman1958United StatesGiantess
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman1993United StatesGiantess
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold1995United StatesGiantess
Attack of the Crab Monsters1958United StatesGiant crabs
Attack on Titan2015Japangiants / Titans
'2012United StatesChitauri Leviathans
Avengers: Endgame2019United StatesChitauri Leviathans
Avengers: Infinity War2018United StatesChitauri Leviathans
'1953United StatesRhedosaurus
'1956United StatesTyrannosaurus rex
Beginning of the End1957United StatesRadioactive grasshoppers
Beyond Skyline2017United StatesTanker aliens
'2016United StatesGiants
Big Ass Spider!2013United StatesGiant spider
Big Man Japan2008JapanDaikaiju
'1957United StatesGiant scorpion
'1958United StatesBlob
'1988United StatesBlob
Bulgasari1962South KoreaBulgasari / daikaiju
Caltiki – The Immortal Monster1959Italy, FranceBlob-like monster
Clash of the Titans1981United States, United KingdomKraken
Clash of the Titans2010United States, United KingdomMonsters from Greek mythology
Cloverfield2008United StatesClover
'2018United StatesClover
Colossal2016Canada/SpainUnknown creature
Conan the Barbarian1982United StatesGiant snake
Crocodile2000United StatesGiant crocodile
Daimajin1966JapanDaimajin
Daimajin Strikes Again1966JapanDaimajin
'1957United StatesPraying mantis
Deadpool & Wolverine2024United StatesAlioth
Deep Rising1998United StatesGiant octopus-like creature
DeepStar Six1989United StatesGiant undersea creature
Destroy All Monsters1968JapanGodzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Rodan, Anguirus, Kumonga, Minilla, Baragon, Varan, Gorosaurus, Manda
Detective Pikachu2019United StatesGiant Torterras
Dinosaur from the Deep1993FranceDinosaurs
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness2022United StatesGargantos
Dogora1964JapanJellyfish-like amorphous alien lifeform
Dune1984United StatesSandworms
Dune2021United StatesSandworms
Dune: Part Two2024United StatesSandworms
D-War2007South Korea, United StatesBuraki, good imoogi
Earth vs. the Spider1958United StatesGiant spider
Ebirah: Horror of the Deep1966JapanGodzilla, Ebirah
'1980United StatesExogorth
Eight Legged Freaks2002United States, Germany, AustraliaGiant spiders
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure1984United StatesGorax
'2023United StatesThanagarian Snare Beast
'1976United StatesGiant Rats
Galaxy Quest1999United StatesGorignak
Gamera1965JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion1996JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris1999JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe1995JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera: Super Monster1980JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera the Brave2006JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Barugon1966JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Guiron1969JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Gyaos1967JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Jiger1970JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Viras1968JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gamera vs. Zigra1971JapanGamera / daikaiju
Gappa: The Triphibian Monster1967JapanBird-lizards / daikaiju
Gargantua1998United StatesPrehistoric creature
Garuda2004ThailandGaruda / giant bird creature
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster1964JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Ghostbusters1984United StatesStay Puft Marshmallow Man
'1959United Kingdom, United StatesPalaeosaurus
'1957United StatesExtraterrestrial prehistoric bird
'1959United StatesBeaded lizard
'1975United StatesGiant spiders
Godzilla/Godzilla, King of the Monsters!/Godzilla1954/1956/1977Japan/Japan, United States/Japan, ItalyGodzilla
Godzilla1998United States, JapanZilla
Godzilla2014United StatesGodzilla, MUTOs
Godzilla 2000: Millennium1999JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla2002JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle2018JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla: Final Wars2004Japan, United States, China, AustraliaGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla: King of the Monsters2019United StatesGodzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah
Godzilla Minus One2023JapanGodzilla
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack2001JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla: The Planet Eater2018JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters2017JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla Raids Again1955JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.2003JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla vs. Biollante1989JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah1995JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla vs. Gigan1972JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / cyborg
Godzilla vs. Hedorah1971JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah1991JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla vs. Kong2021United StatesKong / Godzilla / Mechagodzilla
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla1974JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II1993JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha / cyborg
Godzilla vs. Megaguirus2000JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla vs. Megalon1973JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla vs. Mothra1992JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla1994JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire2024United StatesGodzilla, Kong, Skar King, Shimo, Suko, Mothra, Doug, Wart dog, Tiamat, Scylla
Gogola1966IndiaSea monster
Goosebumps2015United StatesGiant praying mantis
Gorgo1961Ireland, United Kingdom, United StatesSea monster
Grabbers2012Ireland, United KingdomTentacles
Graveyard Shift1990United StatesGiant bat
'1934JapanBuddha statue
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 22017United StatesAbilisk
Half Human1955JapanAbominable Snowman
He's a Dragon2015RussiaDragon
Helluva Good Luck1999Czech RepublicDragon
Helluva Good Luck 22001Czech RepublicDragon
The Hobbit1977United StatesSmaug
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey2012United StatesSmaug
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug2013United StatesSmaug
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies2014United StatesSmaug
'2006South KoreaAmphibious
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation2018United StatesKraken
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs2009United StatesMomma Dino, Rudy
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild2022United StatesMomma Dino
Ilya Muromets1956Soviet UnionDragon
Invasion of Astro-Monster1965Japan, United StatesGodzilla / daikaiju
It Came from Beneath the Sea1955United StatesRadioactive octopus
Jack the Giant Slayer2013United StatesGiants
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island2012United StatesGiant lizard
Journey to the Beginning of Time1955CzechoslovakiaDinosaurs
'2016United StatesKing Louie
Jurassic Park1993United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Jurassic Park III2001United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Jurassic World2015United StatesGenetically modified dinosaurs
Jurassic World Dominion2022United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom2018United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations2021JapanKaiju
King Kong1933United StatesKing Kong
King Kong1976United StatesKing Kong
King Kong2005United States, New ZealandKing Kong
King Kong Appears in Edo1938JapanKing Kong
King Kong Escapes1967Japan, United StatesKing Kong, Mechani-Kong, Gorosaurus
King Kong Lives1986United StatesKing Kong
King of the Lost World2005United StatesGiant ape
King Kong vs. Godzilla1962Japan, United StatesKing Kong / Godzilla
Konga1961United KingdomGiant gorilla
Konga TNT2022CanadaGiant gorilla
Kong: Skull Island2017United StatesKong, Skullcrawlers
Lake Placid1999United StatesGiant crocodile
Lake Placid 22007United StatesGiant crocodile
Lake Placid 32010United StatesGiant crocodiles
Lake Placid: The Final Chapter2012United StatesGiant crocodiles
Lake Placid: Legacy2018United StatesGiant crocodile
Lake Placid vs. Anaconda2015United StatesCrocodile and anaconda
Land of the Lost2009United StatesGrumpy, Big Alice
'1981United StatesLoch Ness Monster
'2017United StatesKing Kong
Legend of the White Horse1987Poland, United StatesDragon
'1925United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
'1997United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Love and Monsters2020United StatesNumerous dinosaurs
Maleficent2014United StatesDiaval
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil2019United StatesMaleficent
Mammoth2006United StatesAlien/woolly mammoth
The Meg2018United States/ChinaMegalodon
Meg 2: The Trench2023United States/ChinaMegalodon, giant octopus, Kronosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex
Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus2010United StatesShark and crocodile
Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus2009United StatesGiant shark and giant octopus
Mega Shark Versus Mecha Shark2014United StatesGiant shark
Mighty Joe Young1949United StatesGiant gorilla
Mighty Joe Young1998United StatesGiant gorilla
'1998United StatesKing Kong
'1977Hong KongPeking Man / Yeti
'2007United StatesVarious
Monster2008United StatesGiant octopus
'2016UKGiant anthropomorphic yew tree
Monster Hunter2020United StatesNumerous monsters
'1957United StatesGiant molluscs
Monsters2010United KingdomSix-legged, tentacled beast
Monsters: Dark Continent2014United KingdomSix-legged, tentacled beast
Monsters vs. Aliens2009United StatesVarious
Mothra1961JapanDaikaiju / giant moth
Mothra vs. Godzilla1964JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Night of the Lepus1972United StatesGiant mutated rabbits
Notzilla2020United StatesDaikaiju / Godzilla parody
On the Comet1970CzechoslovakiaDinosaurs, sea monster
Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon1994JapanYamata no Orochi / dragon
Outlander2008United StatesMoorwen
Pacific Rim2013United States, MexicoDaikaiju / mecha
Pacific Rim: Uprising2018United StatesDaikaiju / mecha
Predator: Badlands2025United StatesKalisk
Primeval2007United StatesCrocodile
Princ Bajaja1971CzechoslovakiaDragon
Princess Mononoke1997JapanForest spirits and gods
Pulgasari1985North KoreaPulgasari / daikaiju
Q1982United StatesAztec god Quetzalcoatl, depicted as a giant winged lizard
The Quatermass Xperiment1955United KingdomMutated Carroon's last form
Queen Kong1976United Kingdom, West GermanyGiant gorilla
Ralph Breaks the Internet2018United StatesGiant Ralph Monster
Rampage2018United StatesGeorge the Gorilla, Lizzie the Alligator, Ralph the Wolf
Ready Player One2018United StatesKing Kong, Mechagodzilla, Tyrannosaurus
Rebirth of Mothra1996JapanDaikaiju / giant moth
Rebirth of Mothra II1997JapanDaikaiju / giant moth
Rebirth of Mothra III1998JapanDaikaiju / giant moth
Reign of Fire2002United Kingdom, Ireland, United StatesWyverns
Reptilicus1961Denmark, United StatesPrehistoric reptile
Return of Daimajin1966JapanDaimajin
/Godzilla 19851984/1985Japan/Japan, United StatesGodzilla / daikaiju
Return of the Jedi1983United StatesRancor, Sarlacc
Rock Monster2008United StatesRock monster
Rodan1956JapanFlying daikaiju, irradiated Pteranodon
Rumble2021United StatesRayburn Jr., Tentacular, many other kaiju
Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster2004United StatesLoch Ness Monster
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf1988United StatesGenghis Kong
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur2011United StatesPhantosaur
'2022United StatesRed Bluster
Shin Godzilla2016JapanGodzilla
Shin Ultraman2022JapanKaiju
Skyline2010United StatesTanker alien
Skylines2020United StatesTanker alien
Sleeping Beauty1959United StatesMaleficent
Snakeman2005United StatesGiant five-headed snake
Snow Dragon2013Czech RepublicDragon
Son of Godzilla1967JapanGodzilla / daikaiju
Son of Kong1933United StatesGiant ape
Space Amoeba1970JapanDaikaiju
Space Jam: A New Legacy2021United StatesKing Kong
Space Monster, Wangmagwi1967South KoreaExtraterrestrial daikaiju
Spider-Man1978JapanSwordfish
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace1999United StatesSando Aqua Monster
'1983Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, RomaniaDragon
'2021United StatesStarro
Super 82011United StatesAlien
Superman2025United StatesKaiju
Tarantula1955United StatesGiant tarantula
Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans2019United StatesThe Unkindness, Hexagon
Tentacles1977Italy, United StatesOctopus
Terror of Mechagodzilla1975JapanGodzilla / daikaiju / mecha
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem2023United StatesSuperfly
Them!1954United StatesRadioactive ants
This Is the End2013United StatesSatan
Thor2011United StatesFrost Beast
Thor: The Dark World2013United StatesFrost Beast
Thor: Ragnarok2017United StatesSurtur, Fenris, dragon
Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon2014United StatesPuffy's mother, Drizelda
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen2009United StatesDevastator, Demolishor
Transformers: Age of Extinction2014United StatesGrimlock, Scorn, Slug, Strafe
Transformers: The Last Knight2017United StatesGrimlock, Dragonstorm
Tremors1990United StatesGraboids
Tremors 2: Aftershocks1996United StatesGraboids
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection2001United StatesGraboids
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins2004United StatesGraboids
Tremors 5: Bloodlines2015United StatesGraboids
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell2018United StatesGraboids
Tremors: Shrieker Island2020United StatesGraboids
Troll2022NorwayTroll
Trollhunter2010NorwayTroll
Turning Red2022United StatesMing
Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Destined Crossroad2022JapanKaiju
Ultraman: Rising2024United States, JapanGigantron, Emi
Ultraman Decker Finale: Journey to Beyond2023JapanKaiju
Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature1967JapanKaiju
Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z2022JapanKaiju
Under Paris2024FranceMutant shark
Underwater2020United StatesCthulhu
The Valley of Gwangi1969United StatesAllosaurus
Varan the Unbelievable1958JapanVaran, giant lizard, daikaiju
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005United KingdomWallace transforms into a Were Rabbit
'2007United States, United Kingdom, New ZealandCrusoe
'1966JapanDaikaiju
What to Do with the Dead Kaiju?2022JapanDaikaiju
World Without End1956United StatesMutated spiders
Wrath of the Titans2012United States, United Kingdom, SpainMonsters from Greek mythology
1967JapanGuilala / daikaiju
Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century1977Italy, CanadaYeti
Yonggary1999South KoreaYonggary
Yongary, Monster from the Deep1967South KoreaYonggary
Za humny je drak1982CzechoslovakiaDragon
Zarkorr! The Invader1996United StatesDaikaiju